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Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in the '69 F3 Tecno at Brands Hatch in September 1969.  Copyright Chris Bennett 2014.  Used with permission.

Formula 3

Formula 3 has a very long tradition, especially in Britain where the 500cc racing movement of the late 1940s grew into the international Formula 3. Formula Junior took its place in the late 1950s but it was reintroduced in 1964 for 1000cc engines. During the late 1960s, F3 was popular right across Europe, with a circus of drivers moving from country to country each weekend. As the formula was changed from the high-revving 1-litre engines to less noisy restricted 1600cc engines in 1971, Formula 3 moved into a new era. The category was now more professional, with the scruffy cars of the past now few and unlikely to get a race. Championships had grown in importance over individual races, with the Shell title being the most important, followed by the other two British titles and the national championships in France, Italy and Sweden. As a result, the races in places such as Belgium, Finland and East Germany attracted fewer competitors and faded from the scene. Germany and Switzerland continued to run races for 1-litre cars for some time.

After three years dominated by Ford twin cams, F3 changed to a 2000cc formula in 1974, and it is still running to broadly the same formula today. At first, the size of grids reduced dramatically, as it had done in 1971, but recovered by the end of 1975. However, France dropped F3 for these two years, preferring to promote a continental version of Formula Renault, until they returned to F3 in 1976. A FIA European championship was introduced in 1975 and ran until 1984 when it was dropped to make space for F3000, and replaced by a one-race European Cup.

Cooper were the biggest name of the 500cc era and Brabham similarly dominated the 1960s 1-litre and 1.6-litre period. March, Chevron, Ralt and Martini fought through the 1970s before the Ralt RT3s started to dominate from 1982 onwards.

European F3

The 1975 season: Monte Carlo, Nürburgring, Anderstorp, Monza, Croix-en-Ternois, Djurslandring

The 1976 season: Nürburgring, Zandvoort, Mantorp Park, Avus, Enna-Pergusa, Monza, Croix-en-Ternois, Kassel-Calden, Knutstorp, Vallelunga

The 1977 season: Paul Ricard, Nürburgring, Zandvoort, Zolder, Österreichring, Imola, Enna-Pergusa, Monza, Croix-en-Ternois, Knutstorp, Kassel-Calden, Donington Park, Jarama, Vallelunga

The 1978 season: Zandvoort, Nürburgring, Österreichring, Zolder, (Monte Carlo), Imola, Nürburgring, Dijon-Prenois, Monza, Enna-Pergusa, Magny Cours, Knutstorp, Karlskoga, Donington Park, Kassel-Calden, Jarama, Vallelunga

The 1979 season: Vallelunga, Nürburgring, Österreichring, Zolder, Magny Cours, Donington Park, (Monte Carlo), Zandvoort, Enna-Pergusa, Monza, Knutstorp, (Österreichring), Kinnekullering, Jarama, Kassel-Calden

The 1980 season: Nürburgring, Österreichring, Zolder, Magny Cours, (Monte Carlo), Zandvoort, La Châtre, Mugello, Monza, Misano, Knutstorp, (Österreichring), Silverstone, Jarama, Kassel-Calden, Zolder

The 1981 season: Vallelunga, Nürburgring, Donington Park, Österreichring, Zolder, Magny Cours, La Châtre, Zandvoort, Silverstone, Croix-en-Ternois, Misano, Knutstorp, Jarama, Imola, Mugello

British F3

The 1973 season: Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Thruxton, Snetterton, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Mallory Park, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Zandvoort, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Snetterton, Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, Brands Hatch, (Mallory Park), Silverstone, Castle Combe, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Brands Hatch

The 1974 season: Oulton Park, Silverstone, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Thruxton

The 1975 season: (Thruxton), Thruxton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Knockhill, Thruxton, Silverstone, Silverstone, (Brands Hatch), Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1976 season: Thruxton, Silverstone, (Oulton Park), Silverstone, Thruxton, Zolder, (Mallory Park), Thruxton, Brands Hatch, (Silverstone), Silverstone, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Snetterton, (Mallory Park), (Brands Hatch), Thruxton

The 1977 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Monte Carlo, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington Park, Thruxton, (Donington Park), Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Donington Park, Snetterton, Donington Park, Silverstone, (Mallory Park), Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Donington Park, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1978 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, (Donington Park), Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Donington Park, Silverstone, Monte Carlo, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Paul Ricard, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Mallory Park, Donington Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, Snetterton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1979 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Snetterton, Donington Park, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, (Donington Park), Monte Carlo, Silverstone, (Donington Park), Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, (Donington Park), Snetterton, Mallory Park, Silverstone, (Mondello Park), (Donington Park), Oulton Park, Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1980 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Silverstone, (Donington Park), Thruxton, Snetterton, Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, (Mondello Park), Mallory Park, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1981 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Mallory Park, Thruxton, Thruxton, Snetterton, Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1982 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Donington Park, Thruxton, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Silverstone, Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1983 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Donington Park, Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Silverstone, Cadwell Park, Snetterton, Silverstone, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, (Thruxton)

The 1984 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Zolder, Thruxton, Thruxton, Donington Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Silverstone

The 1985 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, Donington Park, Zolder, Thruxton, Thruxton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donington Park, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Silverstone

The 1986 season: (Silverstone), Thruxton, Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Donington Park, Silverstone, Silverstone, Oulton Park, Zandvoort, (Brands Hatch), Donington Park, (Brands Hatch), Snetterton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Spa-Francorchamps, Zolder, Silverstone

The 1987 season: Silverstone, Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Thruxton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Silverstone, Zandvoort, Donington Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Spa-Francorchamps, Thruxton

Italian F3

The 1972 season: (Monza), (Nürburgring), Monza, Imola, (Monte Carlo), (Hockenheim), Monza, (Monza), Varano, Imola, Misano, (Nürburgring), Misano, Varano, Monza, Vallelunga, (Monza), (Magny Cours), (Snetterton)

The 1973 season: Casale, (Varano), (Casale), (Varano), Misano, Casale, Imola, Vallelunga, Monte Carlo, Casale, Monza, Casale, Misano, Monza, (Varano), Vallelunga

The 1974 season: Casale, Monza, Vallelunga, Casale, Monte Carlo, Nürburgring, Monza, Casale, Magione, Monza, Mugello

The 1975 season: Casale, (Casale), Varano, Vallelunga, (Casale), Mugello, Magione, Monza, Monza, Casale, Imola

The 1976 season: Mugello, Varano, Magione, Enna-Pergusa, Casale, Monza, Casale, Imola, Monza, Vallelunga, Magione

French F3

The 1973 season: Nürburgring, Silverstone, Nogaro, Magny Cours, Pau, La Châtre, Monte Carlo, Clermont-Ferrand, Rouen-les-Essarts, Paul Ricard, Magny Cours, Croix-en-Ternois, Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Paul Ricard, Albi, Monza, Nogaro, Oulton Park, Montlhéry, Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Croix-en-Ternois

The 1979 season: Nürburgring, Zolder, Magny Cours, Dijon-Prenois, Monte Carlo, Dijon-Prenois, Dijon-Prenois, Jarama, La Châtre, Albi, Le Mans-Bugatti, Paul Ricard

Swedish F3

The 1974 season: Knutstorp, Anderstorp, Falkenburg, Knutstorp, Mantorp Park

The 1975 season: Knutstorp, Mantorp Park, Anderstorp, Kinnekullering, Falkenburg, Kinnekullering, (Jyllands-Ringen), (Knutstorp)

The 1976 season: Knutstorp, (Mantorp Park), (Anderstorp), Kinnekullering, Falkenburg, Knutstorp

The 1977 season: (Knutstorp), Karlskoga, Anderstorp, Falkenburg, Knutstorp, Anderstorp, Karlskoga

The 1978 season: Knutstorp, Kinnekullering, Anderstorp, (Anderstorp), Falkenburg, Knutstorp, Karlskoga, Mantorp Park

The 1979 season: Knutstorp, Anderstorp, (Falkenburg), Kinnekullering, Falkenburg, Knutstorp, (Kinnekullering)

The 1980 season: (Mantorp Park), Kinnekullering, Karlskoga, Mantorp Park, Falkenburg, (Knutstorp), Anderstorp, (Kinnekullering)

The 1981 season: Kinnekullering, Knutstorp, Anderstorp, Falkenburg, (Knutstorp), Karlskoga, (Mantorp Park)

The 1987 season: Mantorp Park, Anderstorp, Knutstorp, Anderstorp, Falkenburg, Kinnekullering, (Knutstorp), (Knutstorp), Mantorp Park

All results and car histories compiled by Chris Townsend.

Please email Allen if you have any British or European F3 race programmes.